Larkfield & New Hythe 1-1 Cray Wanderers - Overall, I'm very pleased with the boys. They're two leagues above and I think we showed our class today, says proud Larkfield assistant manager Michael Phillips

Larkfield & New Hythe 1 – 1 Cray Wanderers
Location	The Community Stadium, 251a New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, Maidstone, Kent ME20 6PU
Kickoff	31/08/2024 15:00

LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE  1-1  CRAY WANDERERS
The Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round
Saturday 31 August 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from New Hythe Lane

LARKFIELD & NEW HYTHE assistant manager Michael Phillips says he’s feeling proud of his players after giving Cray Wanderers an almighty scare during this frenetic FA Cup First Qualifying Round tie.

With Larkfield & New Hythe manager Danny Lye sitting out his club’s biggest game in their history through covid, Phillips took charge of only their third FA Cup tie and they were 11 minutes away from causing a giant-killing act in front of 301 fans at New Hythe Lane.

There were 33 teams separating fourth-from-bottom Isthmian League Premier Division side Cray Wanderers (three points from five) and the ninth-placed Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division hosts (seven points from five).

Larkfield & New Hythe parted company with goalkeeper Jordan Carey following their FA Vase First Qualifying Round exit away to Selsey on Tuesday night.  Carey was sent-off before the Larks lost 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Sussex.

The Larks handed former Rusthall goalkeeper Denney McConnell his debut today, while striker Matthew Day squandered five glorious chances to score, including having a 28^th minute penalty saved by Cray Wanderers goalkeeper Shaun Rowley, 27.

Larkfield & New Hythe took the lead through a towering near-post header from striker Bryan Zepo, scoring his third goal of the season, with 22 minutes left.

Cray Wanderers salvaged a second bite of the cherry when winger Anthony Cook came off the bench to stroke home a penalty with 11 minutes remaining to take them back for Flamingo Park’s first FA Cup tie on Tuesday night.

“Very proud of the team, each to a man they were class,” said Phillips, 41.

“We couldn’t have done much more other than be a little bit more clinical.  I said to the boys before the game, we had a Vase game in the week and we should’ve won about 10-1 but we weren’t clinical enough and didn’t take our chances and it was the same story today.

“I think anyone watching would probably thought we were the team in the Isthmian Prem, not the other way round, so yes, a good day, a big game today.

“They scored late on with a pen, a bit unfortunate, if it was a pen or not. Ross Ibbertson said it wasn’t. He was wrong side. It is what it is. We go there on Tuesday and hopefully we put in the same performance.

“It was an old classic wasn’t it. It was great to watch. I think all the supporters’ that came to watch definitely got their money’s worth, that’s for sure.

Phillips was then asked what his players in yellow and black gave him today.

“They gave us 110%. They couldn’t give any more. I’m very proud of them. Let’s hope we can go there on Tuesday and put the same performance in and come away with the result that we want.

“It was a great day for the club. Hopefully we can keep breaking records and that team in there have got the quality, the belief and the togetherness to push on and keep doing that in years to come.”

Larkfield & New Hythe came out with all guns blazing, showing plenty of heart and desire on a bobbly pitch and in blustery conditions. It was a trademark FA Cup tie with David playing Goliath, something that must be treasured and not to be taken away by the Premier League elite.

Cray Wanderers manager Neil Smith, 52, added: “I’ve just said that, that’s Cup football for you. They put a shift in, both teams. It was physical. It was a little bit blustery; the pitch wasn’t great for both sides. It may not have been a spectacle but I think endeavour, desire was all there for a Cup game.”

Smith added: “I think from the first minute to the last it was frenetic.  There was no one really getting their foot on the ball. It was hard, hard ground, bobbly pitch, windy. The ball seemed lighter than like they normally are because we were over-kicking everything. It’s Cup football and sometimes you just have to roll your sleeves up and get through it.”

Larkfield right-back Ross Ibbertson suffered with an alleged poke in the eye and referee Edward Smith decided a contested drop-ball was to be the outcome and winger Kenny Coker drilled a right-footed drive into the midriff of McConnell from 30-yards on the angle with three minutes and 33 seconds on the clock.

Played at frenetic pace throughout, Edwards clipped the ball up for striker David Smith, who knocked the ball down before Coker played the ball out to winger Nyren Clunis, who went past two men (Temi Alaka and Ibbertson) before reaching the by-line and putting in a low cross towards the far post.

Smith had signed former Whitehawk striker Imran Kayani, 22, before yesterday’s deadline and he squandered a glorious chance by stabbing his first-time shot past the foot of the far post from a couple of yards out (6:26).

“Listen, Imran came in on Thursday. He was somebody we sort of highlighted last season, never thinking we were able to get somebody like that in and we managed to get him across the line literally yesterday,” revealed Smith.

“He trained with the boys Thursday. He needs to get up to speed, don’t get me wrong but you can see he’s got ability on a horrible pitch.

“He probably should’ve scored. He said it bobbled under his foot, just at the last minute and with the header as well.

“It was encouraging. We kept him on when maybe we would’ve taken him off, but I needed him to get the 90 minutes.”

Phillips, who like Lye played for Cray Wanderers during the 2014-15 season, admitted: “We got let off there. I think that was their best chance of the game, other than that I don’t remember our keeper having much to do second half and young Denney came in. it was his debut and he was superb today.

“Jordan Carey is a great lad. His discipline hasn’t been the best of late, so he understands we had to change things.

“I thought Denney was brilliant. Everyone talks about his (slender) size but that weren’t a question today. I thought he was superb. He didn’t put a foot wrong. He should be very, very proud of his performance.”

Larkfield & New Hythe should have grabbed the lead following a well-worked move in the 18^th minute.

Impressive left-winger Alaka drove into the channel before slipping left-back Luke Russell on the over-lap before whipping in a great cross and Day’s near-post flick was heading into the centre of the goal but greedy Alaka headed the ball over the line from an offside position and assistant referee Nicholas Bone raised his flag.

“The boys said it was going in and Temi’s nicked it and unfortunately it was offside,” added Phillips.

Smith added: “He probably took the goal off himself because he was offside but did he need to touch it? I don’t know. It was a great ball in but sometimes you need that rub of the luck and we’ve not had any of that.

“We had a goal that was given against us – it was offside as that one (during our 2-1 defeat) against Dulwich Hamlet on Monday and it wasn’t given but you have to take what you can.”

Zepo clipped a ball over the top and Day sped past Cray Wanderers’ centre-half Tom Bonner and was through on goal and dinked his shot towards goal but the advancing Rowley got a decisive touch and Bonner got back to shut the gate.

Cray Wanderers missed a clear-cut chance to grab a 24^th minute lead, however.

Central midfielder Charlie Edwards played the ball out to Kayani on the right and he played right-back Adrian Owiredu-Gyanera on the overlap and he whipped in a great cross towards the corridor of uncertainty but Kayani’s free header flew straight into McConnell’s gloves for a comfortable catch.

Smith said: “I thought we started really well.  I thought Nyren Clunis, I thought everyone started well. We just needed that goal and then what happens if you don’t get that goal then the opposition start feeling a little bit more confident and get in their little ways in and stuff like that and it becomes a competition.”

Phillips added: “That was another chance.  It was lucky, it was straight at him to be fair. Denney did everything well today. He was very safe in goal and the team had their confidence in him behind in the sticks and that’s very important when you’re an outfield player and you’ve got that trust in your goalkeeper.”

McConnell launched a long ball straight down the middle and Zepo rose with Frankie Raymond on the half-way line and flicked the ball on and release the pacy Alaka, who won a penalty following a handball from Cray Wanderers’ left-back Darion Dowrich on the other side of the penalty area.

Referee Edward Smith pointed to the spot and Day had his big chance but fluffed his lines as his right-footed penalty was saved by Rowley, diving to his left, to prevent Larkfield & New Hythe taking the lead with 27 minutes and 37 seconds on the clock.

“The penalty miss was a big moment. It’s a penalty. The keeper’s guessed the right way and he’s done well to save it,” said Phillips.

“I’m very proud of the team today. They couldn’t have done no more. We just need to be a little bit more clinical and we come away with the win.

“I think if we take those chances in the first half, I think we come away with the win but that’s football. If you don’t take your chances, they’re always in the game.”

Smith added: “Obviously them getting a penalty, a great save by Shaun again. Can’t knock it but what a rebound from Tom Bonner. He was the first one there so that lifted the players going in at half-time 0-0.  Done a job really with the wind behind you. You hope you can capitalise on it.”

Bonner was penalised for a foul on the impressive Zepo and Larkfield & New Hythe went close with an inventive free-kick, as Raymond switched off in the box.

Ibbertson played the free-kick along the bobbly pitch and put Day through on goal but his right-footed shot was plucked out of the air by Rowley, in a one-on-one situation.

“They were getting on top. They had the wind behind them, so we knew it was going to be difficult,” admitted Smith.

“A ball over the top, he’s managed to get on it and Shaun’s done very well and he does very well on one-on-ones, as in penalties as well, so it was a great bit of goalkeeping from Shaun.

“We knew it was going to be difficult against the wind. It was a very strong wind and it was a very strong wind once it came in and the boys did their job.”

Owiredu-Gyamera and Edwards linked up well down the right and Edwards floated the ball in from the right towards the near-post where Coker rose to steer his header across the keeper and past the far post.

Ibbertson almost got lucky with a left-footed free-kick from 30-yards, which caressed high into the side-netting (aiming for the top right-hand corner), with the goalkeeper stepping to his left.

Cray Wanderers striker David Smith had to go deep to receive Edwards’ low pass, before driving forward and unleashing a left-footed drive from 30-yards, which bounced a couple of times before being comfortably gathered by McConnell in the 42^nd minute.

Smith, was asked how the goal-less 25-year-old former Folkestone Invicta striker has settled in to his new club.

“He’s still finding his feet. We’re still trying to find the best way of getting the ball to him and where he wants it. His hold up play is good, his endeavour. He probably just needs a goal. He just needs to settle his nerves and get that off his back and hopefully that comes pretty soon.  I thought Kenny Coker was outstanding today.”

Phillips would have been the happier of the two managers as Larkfield & New Hythe’s high intensity caused their higher-league opponents’ problems.

“It was quite an easy team talk to be fair. We was comfortable, we were the better team,” insisted Phillips.

“I said to the boys ‘don’t be complacent.’ We’ve got to go out there and put the same shift in as we did in the first half and if we are clinical and put it in the back of the net, then it’s up to us to keep the lead and go on and win the game.

“But it was a bit unfortunate that they came back and got the penalty.”

Smith added: “You’ve been against the wind. They’ve had their chance; we’ve had a penalty saved but now it’s up to us to hopefully make more of what we’re about. 

“When you’ve got people like Imran Kayani, Nyren Clunis and Kenny Coker in the team, get the ball into their feet a little bit more but it was tough because everything was a second ball, was a hook.”

Cray Wanderers were awarded an non-contested drop ball and Raymond smashed a left-footed half-volley from 30-yards through a crowd of players and Clunis cut in unmarked to flick his first-time shot across McConnell and just past the far post inside the opening five minutes of the second half.

“It looked to us like it was on target. I don’t know whether Nyren needed to get a touch on that. He sort of got in and got on the ball on the rise so it’s hard to keep it down, unless you’re getting above it. Just invention from Frankie and Nyren was different class,” added Smith.

The Wands went direct in the tenth minute when a long throw came in from left-back Darion Dowrich, the ball was flicked on at the near-post and Smith’s weak header was comfortably gathered by the untroubled McConnell.

Neil Smith hooked the ineffective David Smith in the 58^th minute and brought on Cook as left-winger, with Coker now deployed as a central striker with Clunis behind him and Kayani wide right.

Larkfield & New Hythe dominated the corner count by 12-5 (their first six coming in the opening 21 minutes) and they took the lead with their penultimate corner with 22 minutes and 59 seconds on the clock.

Left-winger Alvin Turyatemba floated in a great corner from the left and Zepo rose at the near-post and buried his free header into the top left-hand corner from three-yards out.

Phillips said: “A great corner, a great finish by Zepo. I thought he was very, very good today as well. The way he held the ball up. He’s a very intelligent player. He's a class player to bring into our squad.”

Phillips was asked whether he felt The FA Cup upset was now on the cards at that point in the game.

“I did yes. It’s never over until the final whistle. Anything can happen, especially 1-0 is a dodgy scoreline but it was a good day, a great performance and let’s hope we can go there on Tuesday and get the win that we deserved today.”

Smith revealed during the post-match press conference that he was impressed with Zepo today.

“I thought he was very good for them today.  I think a few of their players were very good for them but I thought he was outstanding in his hold up.

“We made a substitution and people hadn’t listened to their job roles so we’ve left that near-post area free and he got across, he jumped early. It’s hard to defend, right on the goal-line so it was a great goal from them.”

It should have got even better for the home side when Day lacked composure when he really needed some (26:53).

A long ball over the top by left-back Luke Russell played in Day through the heart of the pitch and he rounded the advancing Rowley before going to pieces inside the box and his shot was cleared away by Dowrich as the Wands got their defenders back to shut the gate, as Day, who notched 41 goals in all competitions for the then tenth-tier Larks, awaits his first goal of this season.

Phillips said: “He had a few chances today Matty. He’s just coming back from injury. He didn’t do pre-season, so he’s a yard or two off full match sharpness. He’s still getting there. If he gets a little bit sharper and once he gets a goal, I think he’ll be away and he’ll be beaming with confidence.”

Smith added: “They had another chance and I think all of our players were in the right position and we managed to clear it so we just hope people take their instructions.

“I think Darren Dowrich and Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera (my two full-backs) have both came in from playing lower league football, shall I say. Adrain only came in the other day and they’ve acquitted themselves really well.  They’re still finding their feet at this level, the pace of it and everything else and still getting to know the boys but they’ve come in and they’ve done really well.”

Cray Wanderers grabbed an equaliser with 33 minutes and 43 seconds on the clock, through Cook’s clinical finish from the penalty spot.

It came from their fourth corner, which substitute Arezki Hamouchene played short to Clunis, who cut into the penalty area from the left before being tripped by Ibbertson.

Cook stroked his right-footed penalty just left of centre in the air, sending McConnell the wrong way, as he dived to his left.

When asked whether he felt his side would be crashing out of The FA Cup at the first attempt, Smith replied: “No, no, not at all. We knew we’d get a goal. It’s just when and how.

“I brought on Arezki and Cookie on, they give you direct football, they give you dribbling and running and that’s how we got it.  Nyren runs into the box and it was a penalty and cooly taken away by Cookie, what he’s outstanding at and we wanted to go for the win.

“We put Dontai Stewart on as well. It wasn’t about getting through to a replay, it was about getting the win, so we put Dontai on.

“When conditions are like this, sometimes you’ve got to play the conditions. I don’t think we played it well enough in both halves.”

Smith paid tribute to 35-year-old Cook for his salvation act from 12-yards.

“Cookie is brilliant. He’s so important to myself, let alone the team and the club. He’s passionate, he’s got a desire and he wants to win and he’s great with the young lads.

“He gets frustrated when he’s not starting, he gets even more frustrated when I take him off but I know what I’m getting every week. Being that age and everything else, you have to be very selective on when you can play him and when you can’t.

“I started him on Monday and he was outstanding.  I’ve had to bring him on as a sub and he’ll run through a brick wall for myself and the club, full credit to him.”

Phillips said: “It’s one of those ones. It looked like Ibbo got the wrong side, you can’t really dive in. People are telling me he (Clunis) dived. They’re saying he dived and he went down easily.  He’s gone down, the referee’s bought it. It’s one of them isn’t it. Some give it, some don’t, so you can’t be too judgemental on it.

“If it was a penalty or not, I’m not too sure but overall, I’m very pleased with the boys.  They’re two leagues above and I think we showed our class today.”

Neither side could find the winner as Phillips heaped plenty of praise on his two outstanding centre-halves Fraser Walker and Nathan Daly.

“They were solid today, they were really good, really proud of them. They (Cray Wanderers) didn’t cause us too many problems. They dealt with what they had to deal with, yes, a great partnership.”

Larkfield & New Hythe’s maiden FA Cup campaign has seen them beat Kennington (2-1) and Lingfield (3-1), while Cray Wanderers’ FA Cup campaign started by losing 5-4 at home to Dartford back in 1960.

The replay will be Cray Wanderers’ 122^nd FA Cup tie but Phillips is keen to make it Larkfield & New Hythe’s greatest ever night in their 62 year history.

“I just think we go there and if we can perform like we did today, I think we ‘ve got a great chance of getting ourselves in the next round – but it’s going to be tough,” warned Phillips.

“It will be a different game. Every game is different. They’ll be ready and they’ll know what we’re all about now, so yes, I’m looking forward to it. It should be a good game but after that performance I’m pretty sure that we’ll be full of confidence that we can go there and get a result.

“We’ll see how the boys are. Hopefully (Danny Lye) will be back from Covid and we’ll have a chat and see how the boys are but after that performance it will be hard to change that starting eleven.

“I thought Temi Alaka caused them all sorts of problems with his pace in behind. I thought Denney, a young boy who came in goal, I thought he had a great debut for us today. Man to man, I think everyone was bang at it today. They were class and I’m proud of the whole team.”

Cray Wanderers will be favourites going into the home replay – but they have lost to both to Cray Valley (0-2) and Lewes (1-3) at their new stadium in the seventh-tier.

Smith said: “We know what to expect. They’re a good side, obviously winning promotion and I think they’re looking to get another promotion this year. They’re a team that want to go straight through, you can see that.  They’re hungry, they’ve got some very good players in here that have dropped down from the Isthmian. 

“I think it’s going to be another tough game. I don’t expect anything different at our place on a Tuesday night.

“We’ll see who we get on Monday’s (Second Qualifying Round Draw) and it might just, the incentives are there aren’t they?

“We’ve got to get away from the fact it’s the first this and the first that and everything is going to be a first. I totally understand, totally understand. First FA Cup game (at Flamingo Park). Everything’s a first. I totally understand it but we’ve just got to look beyond that.

“It’s another game for us. It’s a Cup game that we wanted to win today. We didn’t. We get another bite of the cherry knowing who the opponents will be in the next round.

“Touch wood, we have got no injuries. I won’t know until Monday night, hopefully fingers crossed we’ve got a full squad to pick from.”

Cray Wanderers have NEVER reached The FA Cup First Round in their 163-year history.  In a season of first’s, Smith is keen to make more history for the club but Larkfield & New Hythe will not roll over and compete in one of the toughest and most lucrative paid ninth-tier League’s in the entire country.

“I keep getting told that. I keep getting told that. Listen, I’d love to get through to the First Round for the owners. They’ve been brilliant. They’ve invested a lot of money into the club (Flamingo Park) and to do that would be a fantastic reward for them.

“But we’ve got to get through the next round. We don’t look any further than that. We know what we’re expecting on Tuesday and it will be difficult but we’ll be ready and prepared the best we can.”

Larkfield & New Hythe:  Denney McConnell, Ross Ibbertson (Callum Emptage 85), Luke Russell, Jerome Wade, Fraser Walker, Nathan Daly, Alvin Turyatemba, Ben Davisson, Matthew Day (Joshua Jackson 76), Bryan Zepo (Chibheze Innocent 90), Temi Alaka (Clark Woodcock 85).
Subs: Jack Clark, Daniel Lewis

Goal: Bryan Zepo 68

Booked: Jerome Wade 44, Fraser Walker 78

Cray Wanderers: Shaun Rowley, Adrian Owiredu-Gyamera, Darion Dowrich, Frankie Raymond (Arezki Hamouchene 76), Quade Taylor, Tom Bonner, Nyren Clunis (Dontai Stewart 85), Charlie Edwards, David Smith (Anthony Cook 58), Imran Kayani, Kenny Coker.
Subs: Alfie Evans, David Ijaha, Lateef Adaja

Goal: Anthony Cook 79 (penalty)

Booked: Frankie Raymond 23, Tom Bonner 33, Charlie Edwards 74

Attendance: 301
Referee: Mr Edward Smith
Assistants: Mr Nicholas Bone & Mr Perry Hart